On the night of 15 December, strong winds struck Libreville, Gabon, causing widespread damage to homes and belongings in neighborhoods such as PK 9, PK 10, and PK 11. Gabonese Red Cross volunteers were mobilized within hours to assess the situation and provide immediate psychosocial support to affected families. Roofs were torn off, houses left exposed, and families struggled to salvage what they could.
Volunteers like Carine, who has served for 15 years, played a central role in the response. She emphasized that volunteers are “at the heart of the response, standing alongside communities.” Her experience highlights the recurring nature of these climate-related events, which have become more frequent and severe in recent years. Among those affected was Bangani Marie Christine, head of a household of 21 people, whose home and livelihood were destroyed, forcing her family to sleep under the open sky in fear of another storm.
The response was organized through funding from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund, targeting 300 households and reaching about 1,500 people. Assistance included cash support, hygiene kits, household items, water and sanitation awareness, and psychosocial activities. Volunteers conducted door-to-door outreach to promote hygiene practices and organized community discussions to strengthen accountability. They also worked with residents on clean-up activities, addressing risks linked to unsafe housing and improving the living environment.
As the intensity of such storms appears to be increasing, anticipatory action and community preparedness are becoming essential. The response is being extended to support 430 additional households in Mouila and Franceville, also affected by the winds.
This operation underscores the vital role of local volunteers, whose commitment goes beyond material aid. Their presence, adaptability, and dedication ensure that humanitarian action reaches communities at their most vulnerable moments, offering not only assistance but also companionship and support.
